Display device

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel, and a backlight unit disposed below the display panel. The backlight unit includes a bottom cover including a bottom portion and a side wall protruding from the bottom portion, a light source accommodated in the bottom cover, a middle mold supported by the bottom cover, where the middle mold includes a seating portion and an elastic portion mounted on the seating portion, a diffusion plate supported by the elastic portion, and an optical sheet disposed on the elastic portion. The seating portion and the elastic portion include different materials from each other. The elastic portion has a side end portion that defines a depression for accommodating an end portion of the diffusion plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display device comprising:
 a display panel; and   a backlight unit disposed below the display panel,   wherein the backlight unit comprises:
 a bottom cover comprising a bottom portion and a side wall which protrudes from the bottom portion; 
 a light source accommodated in the bottom cover; 
 a middle mold supported by the bottom cover, the middle mold comprising a seating portion and an elastic portion mounted on the seating portion; 
 a diffusion plate supported by the elastic portion; and 
 an optical sheet disposed on the elastic portion, 
   the seating portion and the elastic portion comprise different materials from each other, and   the elastic portion has a side end portion that defines a depression for accommodating an end portion of the diffusion plate.   
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the side end portion surrounds a side surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface of the diffusion plate. 
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the side end portion of the elastic portion decreases along a direction from the accommodated end portion of the diffusion plate toward a center portion of the diffusion plate. 
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a coupling projection to be inserted into the seating portion, and
 the seating portion has a coupling depression for accommodating the coupling projection.   
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the coupling projection and a width of the coupling depression decrease along a thickness direction from a lower surface of the elastic portion toward an upper surface of the seating portion. 
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion is spaced apart from each of the end portion of the diffusion plate and an end portion of the optical sheet in at least one of a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 6 , wherein a distance between the elastic portion and the diffusion plate is different from a distance between the elastic portion and the optical sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the diffusion plate is spaced apart from the display panel by the elastic portion in a third direction. 
     
     
         9 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion defines a guide depression for accommodating a part of the optical sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the side end portion of the elastic portion decreases along a direction from the accommodated end portion of the diffusion plate toward a center portion of the diffusion plate in an area corresponding to the guide depression. 
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 9 , wherein the optical sheet comprises a protruding portion disposed at the guide depression. 
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a projection disposed on the guide depression, and
 the protruding portion of the optical sheet defines one of a through hole and a cutout portion for accommodating the projection.   
     
     
         13 . The display device of  claim 9 , further comprising an adhesive tape that covers the guide depression of the elastic portion. 
     
     
         14 . The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the elastic portion defines a step depression for accommodating the adhesive tape. 
     
     
         15 . The display device of  claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the adhesive tape is substantially equal to a thickness of the step depression. 
     
     
         16 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion further comprises a buffer portion having a hollow structure. 
     
     
         17 . A display device comprising:
 a display panel having a display area and a non-display area; and   a backlight unit disposed below the display panel,   wherein the backlight unit comprises:
 a bottom cover comprising a bottom portion and a side wall protruding from the bottom portion; 
 a light source accommodated in the bottom cover; 
 a middle mold supported by the bottom cover, the middle mold comprising a seating portion and an elastic portion mounted on the seating portion; 
 a diffusion plate supported by the elastic portion; and 
 an optical sheet disposed on the elastic portion, 
   the elastic portion has a guide depression for accommodating a part of the optical sheet, and   the optical sheet comprises a protruding portion disposed at the guide depression.   
     
     
         18 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a projection disposed on the guide depression, and
 the protruding portion of the optical sheet defines one of a through hole and a cutout portion for accommodating the projection.   
     
     
         19 . The display device of  claim 18 , further comprising an adhesive tape that covers the guide depression of the elastic portion. 
     
     
         20 . The display device of  claim 19 , wherein the elastic portion defines a step depression for accommodating the adhesive tape. 
     
     
         21 . The display device of  claim 20 , wherein a thickness of the adhesive tape is substantially equal to a thickness of the step depression. 
     
     
         22 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the diffusion plate comprises a glass plate, a wavelength conversion layer disposed at an upper surface of the glass plate, a passivation layer disposed on the wavelength conversion layer, and a diffusion pattern disposed at a lower surface of the glass plate. 
     
     
         23 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the optical sheet has a thickness less than a thickness of the diffusion plate. 
     
     
         24 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the optical sheet has a thickness greater than a thickness of the diffusion plate at an area corresponding to the protruding portion. 
     
     
         25 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the optical sheet contacts the diffusion plate at the display area.